System and method for mounting wall panels secured to a wall

Abstract

A system for mounting wall panels to an existing wall, includes fastening extrusions, each including an extrusion base section adapted to be secured to the existing wall, at least one retaining wall extending at an angle from the base section, and a holding member on each retaining wall; and intermediary supports for supporting the wall panels at a position between side edges of the wall panels, each intermediary support including an intermediary support base plate adapted to be secured to the existing wall, and a sliding member adapted to be slidably connected with the base plate, such that one wall panel is adapted to be secured on the sliding member for sliding movement relative to the intermediary support base plate with the sliding member in order to slide a side edge of the wall panel into one fastening extrusion between the extrusion base section and the holding member.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for mounting wall panels to an existing wall, comprising:
 a plurality of fastening extrusions, each fastening extrusion including:
 an extrusion base section adapted to be secured to the existing wall, 
 at least one extrusion retaining wall extending at an angle from said base section, and 
 a holding member on each retaining wall; and 
 
 a plurality of intermediary supports for supporting the wall panels at a position between side edges of the wall panels, each said intermediary support including:
 an intermediary support base adapted to be secured to the existing wall, said intermediary support base including:
 a base plate adapted to be secured to the existing wall, 
 a first support base retaining wall connected with a first side of said base plate, and 
 a second support base retaining wall connected with a second opposite side of said base plate, 
 an opening defined between inner ends of said first and second support base retaining walls in a widthwise direction of said intermediary support base; and 
 
 a sliding member adapted to be slidably connected with said base plate, such that one said wall panel is adapted to be secured on said sliding member for sliding movement relative to the intermediary support base with said sliding member in order to slide a side edge of the wall panel into one said fastening extrusion between said extrusion base section and said holding member, said sliding member having a first widthwise dimension between outer lengthwise edges thereof which permits entry of said sliding member within said first and second support base retaining walls through said opening and which permits widthwise sliding adjustment of said sliding member between said first and second support base retaining walls. 
 
 
     
     
       2. A system for mounting wall panels to an existing wall according to  claim 1 , wherein the holding member of each fastening extrusion includes one of:
 an enlarged section extending along an upper end of each retaining wall; and 
 a hold down wall connected at the upper end of each retaining wall and extending in spaced relation with the extrusion base section. 
 
     
     
       3. A system for mounting wall panels to an existing wall according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one fastening extrusion includes:
 at least one corner fastening extrusion, and 
 at least one main fastening extrusion. 
 
     
     
       4. A system for mounting wall panels town existing wall according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one fastening extrusion includes two parallel, spaced apart retaining walls extending at an angle from said base section, with each retaining wall including one said holding member. 
     
     
       5. A system for mounting wall panels to an existing wall according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one said fastening extrusion includes a bend in the extrusion base section thereof which is bent toward a respective said holding member to form a gap therebetween to receive one side edge of one wall panel. 
     
     
       6. A system for mounting wall panels to an existing wall according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 each wall panel is formed by a core with a thin metal wall covering opposite sides thereof; and 
 at least one said fastening extrusion includes a bulge in at least one said retaining wall thereof against which only said core is adapted to engage in order to allow for thermal expansion of said thin metal walls. 
 
     
     
       7. A system for mounting wall panels to an existing wall according to  claim 1 , further including a closure member for covering each said fastening extrusion, said closure member engaging at least one of:
 at least one said retaining wall, and 
 at least one said holding member. 
 
     
     
       8. A system for mounting wall panels to an existing wall according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said sliding member includes:
 a central member dimensioned to fit between said first and second support base retaining walls, 
 a first wing member at a first side of said central member for engagement within said first support base retaining wall, and 
 a second wing member at a second opposite side of said central member for engagement within said second support base retaining wall, and 
 said second widthwise dimension is defined between outer free lengthwise edges of said first and second wing members. 
 
 
     
     
       9. A system for mounting wall panels to an existing wall according to  claim 1 , further including a thermal insulation member for positioning between the existing wall and at least one of:
 at least one said extrusion base, and 
 at least one said intermediary support base. 
 
     
     
       10. A system for mounting wall panels to an existing wall according to  claim 1 , further including a furring member connected between the existing wall and at least one of:
 at least one said fastening extrusion, and 
 at least one said intermediary support. 
 
     
     
       11. A system for mounting wall panels to an existing wall according to  claim 10 , wherein each furring member includes:
 at least one foot wall adapted to be connected to the existing wall, 
 at least one spacing wall having one end connected to the at least one foot wall and extending in a direction transverse to the at least one foot wall and the existing wall, and 
 a connection wall connected to an opposite end of the at least one spacing wall and extending in a direction transverse to the at least one spacing wall for connection to at least one of:
 at least one said fastening extrusion, and 
 at least one said intermediary support. 
 
 
     
     
       12. A system for mounting wall panels to an existing wall, comprising:
 a plurality of fastening extrusions, each fastening extrusion including:
 an extrusion base section adapted to be secured to the existing wall, 
 at least one extrusion retaining wall extending at an angle from said base section, and 
 a holding member on each retaining wall; and 
 
 a plurality of intermediary supports for supporting the wall panels at a position between side edges of the wall panels, each said intermediary support including:
 an intermediary support base adapted to be secured to the existing wall, said intermediary support base including:
 a base plate adapted to be secured to the existing wall, 
 a first support base retaining wall connected with a first side of said base plate, and 
 a second support base retaining wall connected with a second opposite side of said base plate, 
 said first and second support base retaining walls each have a widthwise dimension, and the widthwise dimension of said first support base retaining wall is less than the widthwise dimension of said second support base retaining wall, and 
 
 a sliding member adapted to be slidably connected with said base plate, such that one said wall panel is adapted to be secured on said sliding member for sliding movement relative to the intermediary support base plate with said sliding member in order to slide a side edge of the wall panel into one said fastening extrusion between said extrusion base section and said holding member, said sliding member including:
 a central member dimensioned to fit between said first and second support base retaining walls, 
 a first wing member at a first side of said central member for engagement within said first support base retaining wall, and 
 a second wing member at a second opposite side of said central member for engagement within said second support base retaining wall, and 
 said first and second wing members each have a widthwise dimension, and the widthwise dimension of said first wing member is less than the widthwise dimension of said second wing member. 
 
 
 
     
     
       13. A method for mounting wall panels to an existing wall, with a system of the type including a plurality of fastening extrusions, each fastening extrusion including an extrusion base section adapted to be secured to the existing wall, at least one retaining wall extending at an angle from said base section, and a holding member on each retaining wall; a plurality of intermediary supports for supporting the wall panels at a position between side edges thereof, each said intermediary support including an intermediary support base adapted to be secured to the existing wall, and a sliding member adapted to be slidably connected with said intermediary support base, such that one said wall panel is adapted to be secured on said sliding member for sliding movement relative to the intermediary support base with said sliding member in order to slide a side edge of the wall panel into one said fastening extrusion between said extrusion base section and said holding member, said method comprising the steps of:
 a) securing a first said fastening extrusion to the existing wall; 
 b) securing the intermediary support base of at least one said intermediary support to the existing wall in spaced relation from said first fastening extrusion; 
 c) slidably assembling a sliding member with the secured intermediary support base so that the sliding member is positioned to one side in the intermediary support base in a direction away from said first fastening extrusion; 
 d) securing one said wall panel on said sliding member for sliding movement relative to the intermediary support base with said sliding member, such that one side edge of said wall panel is in spaced relation to one said retaining wall of said first fastening extrusion; 
 e) moving said wall panel toward said first fastening extrusion such that said sliding member moves to an opposite side of said intermediary support base and such that said one side edge of said wall panel is moved into at least close abutment to one said retaining wall of said first fastening extrusion below the holding member thereof; 
 f) positioning a second said fastening extrusion against the existing wall, such that an opposite side edge of the wall panel is in at least close abutment to one said retaining wall of said second fastening extrusion; and 
 g) continually repeating steps b)-f). 
 
     
     
       14. A method for mounting wall panels to an existing wall according to  claim 13 , wherein the first said fastening extrusion is a corner fastening extrusion and the second said fastening extrusion is a main fastening extrusion. 
     
     
       15. A method for mounting wall panels to an existing wall according to  claim 13 , further including the step of assembling a closure member with at least one of one said holding member and one said retaining member of the respective fastening extrusion. 
     
     
       16. A method for mounting wall panels to an existing wall according to  claim 13 , further including the steps of:
 h) securing a third said fastening extrusion to the existing wall at right angles to the first fastening extrusion prior to said step a); and 
 i) moving said wall panel toward said third fastening extrusion when said wall panel is moved toward said first fastening extrusion such that one end edge of said wall panel is moved into at least close abutment to one said retaining wall of said third fastening extrusion below the holding member thereof.